ct_programmer

Syntax-Brillian Can't Compete With Vizio

Hey has anyone figured out why it shot up 37% the other day? The volume was much higher than normal and it was close to the closing, so I figured maybe some institutional investor bought in. But I haven't seen any details or news.

Syntax-Brillian Can't Compete With Vizio

Just give up on it Samuel. Does anyone really heed what you say? By now, I see a link for BRLC and follow it, but if I see your name I just skip reading it. SOS.

Ambac, MBIA: The Shorting Game is Over

Capt. Gary, I think you should change your opening line from "I may be crazy" to just plain "I am crazy".

Third Avenue: Why MBIA Is a Good Buy

I've read estimates closer to $13-15 for a run-off amount, and $30 if they make it out of the abyss.

What's Going on with Bond Insurers?

I just can't help jumping in on this one. "Whoever thought of insuring bonds?" Hmmm.... I guess all of the municipalities really didn't know what they were doing and just decided "hey, let's throw some money away!" (maybe they should have all consulted with your first). I get tired of reading these "articles" where people keep saying that municipalities didn't need to buy any bond insurance because they rarely default. Maybe a big issuer like the State of California, where everyone across the country knows their financial position, but what analyst is going to spend the time generating a credit rating for some few million dollar bond issue for a school in Podunk? The idea behind the bond insurance is more about liquidity, not problems with defaults. By "borrowing" the bond insurer's credit rating, the bond offering goes much more smoothly by not having to scrutinize every aspect of every bond issuance. Which is exactly why you're now seeing a decline in the rates of offerings using bond insurance (whether from Berkshire, Ambac, MBIA or anyone), because it is NOT making it go smoother currently. It is having the opposite effect lately due to the anxiety of questioning whether the bond insurer will be there pay if a default happens. Eventually, this will blow over and it will go back to the way it was because there was a benefit to that system. The players may change, but the game will remain the same.

Will Syntax-Brillian Survive?

SOS. Does this guy get a bonus if he drives it all the way to zero? I mean, if he's short BRLC hasn't he made a ton already and should be moving on to greener [or should that be browner] pastures? Does BRLC have bad management and extremely poor timing? Sure. I'm glad because I bought in during one of those knee-jerk drops in pricing when quarterly results were delayed.

I love how this guy says "In addition, recent reports suggest that growth for flat-screen television appears to have peaked out in the United States. Companies may have to further discount their televisions in order to attract buyers." A month ago, everyone was going on about the growth in demand for LCD's, and companies like GLW were running up on a strong outlook. I guess LCD demand has dropped off a cliff in a month's time and suddenly no one is buying TV's. Certainly not the billions of emerging middle classmen in China.

I'm holding on BRLC. If they drop off the cliff, there's not much farther to go anyway. But if they turn this thing around it will be a different story. It would, however, be nice once in a while to see a blog link for BRLC that doesn't link to someone with a short position trying to drive them into the ground.

Is Silver Point a Television Company Repairman?

It would be helpful if you disclosed if you were long, short or no position in BRLC.

MBIA Dismisses Ackman: Got A Better Plan?

How is raising billions in capital to shore up their reserves not a plan? And why on earth would ANYONE listen to Ackman? You talk about him like he's some genius. He's short MBIA and Ambac and disseminating all the bad press he can to lower their stock values and make a buck. And how is suggesting that the two split --- which many people have done --- "Ackman's plan"? And "Buffet's plan" was "you give us the good stuff and keep the bad". How is that a "plan"? The only real plan is that banks have a lot riding on these monolines and if they can cooperate on a deal (like it appears they are doing with Ambac and likely already with MBIA on the quiet), then they won't have to write down as much. Will MBIA, Ambac or some of the others survive? Some likely will and some won't, either with or without some sort of government assistance. Some of these companies will go under and some in 5 years will look back with at it as just some storm they had to weather. Should the 3 little pigs have considered the Wolf's "plan"?